Curragh Sunday review: Reports, replays and free video replays

Einstein shines in Marble Hill

Albert Einstein made it two victories from two starts in the Gain Marble Hill Stakes and was subsequently cut to 5/4 for the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot buy Paddy Power and Betfair.

Aidan O'Brien's two-year-old Wootton Bassett colt was a striking winner on debut at Naas earlier in the May and followed up with a commanding display, travelling powerfully behind rivals before quickening to lead inside the final half-furlong.

He got to the front without Ryan Moore going for everything in the saddle and the 4/11 favourite had three-quarters of a length in hand over Power Blue (11/1) at the line.

Moore said: "He is exciting, very fast. Obviously he's going to Ascot so we wanted to... if we'd just let him jump out and make all he'd probably have won by 10 lengths today but we wanted him to do something a bit different.

"You wouldn't want to be backing him at a short price but he's a very good horse."

O'Brien talked at length about Albert Einstein saying: "We always thought he was very special. He's a hardy, strong, fast horse. He's probably as fast a horse as we've ever seen work.

"The first day Wayne gave him a beautiful ride, taught him but he lit up a lot even though he wasn't asked much so we were worried today with the wind and how quick he was. Ryan was able to get a lead on him and we were hoping the pace was going to be strong, Ryan gave him a brilliant ride, he sat tight as long as he could and he was a little bit keen. He gave him the chance to relax and then he pulled him out and Ryan said he just took a minute to engage because he hadn't been asked to work much off the bridle and then he felt when he did engage, he took off.

"He said he's very quick. We thought at home that he would be fine at six, seven or a mile and still could be but Ryan said he's very quick. The plan was to come here and go to the Coventry and that's why he had to come out. Ryan had to give him a few backhanders to make him go on to the line because he won't get much of a chance to learn in the Coventry so that's the plan at the moment. Hopefully he comes out of it well and his mind goes the right way which we don't think it won't but he's just a very, very fast horse.

"I'd say there's a lot to come the way he behaves. He was strong enough today, In Ascot you'd like him to gear down a little bit early and that means he'll have more at the end. The only thing he's going to do that from is racing and hopefully everything goes well when he goes back. He's very exciting. From the first day he worked we always felt he was very, very different. He's 540 kg for a two-year-old and the size of him, he doesn't look that big or that long but he's just physically very strong."

Albert Einstein could be joined in the Coventry Stakes by Seattle, of whom his trainer said: "Ryan rode him in work in the week and thought he was a horse that could get six or seven, he's a horse that could run and be a second string in the Coventry.

"He could be a good second string in it."

One-two for Donnacha O'Brien

The Curragh's opening Tally Ho Stud Irish EBF Fillies Maiden saw 6/1 chance Balantina open her account at the second time of asking.

An eye-catching fourth after running green on debut over the same six furlongs earlier in the month, the daughter of Ten Sovereigns bounced out of the stalls in impressive fashion and made all the running under Oisin Murphy, ultimately scoring by a length and leading home a one-two for trainer Donnacha O’Brien with 7/4 favourite Cape Sounion filling second spot.

Third went to 5/1 shot Beautify under Ryan Moore, with her well-backed Aidan O’Brien stablemate Composing (3/1) finishing outside of the places.

The winning trainer said on Racing TV: "They're two nice fillies; at home Cape Sounion would probably work a little bit better but Balantina keeps a bit for herself; you probably think that you should have split them up but it's nice that they're on their way.

"It certainly wasn't my money [for Balantina on debut] but she worked very nicely up the Curragh here one day and obviously someone saw it which is why she probably went off favourite; I thought she'd run well without fancying her but obviously she's learned plenty from that and taken a nice step forward.

"It looked like she [Cape Sounion] might need seven, just hit a little bit of a flat spot today but I'd have to watch it back. I think it's probably a good thing to be on the stands' side as well but they both ran very well.

"I think Cape Sounion we probably won't [go to Royal Ascot], the plan was to come here and then go to the Balanchine so we'll see whether we go to a maiden or stick to that plan. I think there's a good chance Balantina could take her chance in the Albany."

A good day for Donnacha O'Brien, also on the mark with Porta Fortuna, got even better when Sharpen (14/1) won the closing Glenroyal Hotel And Shoda Cafe Irish European Breeders Fund Fillies Maiden.

There was a thrilling finish to the QuinnBet Spring Fillies Handicap with Shiota (3/1) seeing off Glorious Gem by a nose with the pair pulling two and a half lengths clear of Lady Lilac in the Premier Handicap.

The winner and the third are trained by Joseph Murphy who said: "I wasn't sure [if she'd won] and I kept my confidence to myself and walked of the stands, then I was delighted to hear number 3.

"I think she can go up the ranks and the next race now is a Listed race in Killarney and then we'll work up from there; she's a nice filly. We were talking about maybe putting her in the Britannia but we'll see."

It was a good day for Murphy who saddled Cercene to finish third in the 1000 Guineas and he said of her: "We're thrilled with her. Someone told me she passed three in the last furlong, she always does that. She's in the Coronation, whether we go there or not. Gary [Carroll] told me she'd have no problem stepping her up to a mile two."

Carroll also partnered Shiota and went on to complete a double aboard Robbies Rock (5/1) for trainer Gavin Cromwell in the Cryoclinic.ie Handicap.

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